With the global economy changing faster than ever before, the impacts of corporate organizations on the general consumer welfare are being felt in more ways than anticipated. The rise of social media has greatly contributed to how transparently corporate organizations conduct their businesses and consequently, how businesses respond to society’s expectations.
KenGen is one such organization. The company has a robust Foundation dedicated to executing the company’s Corporate Social Investment policy while creating value for both the company and the society.
Generally, there’re two different approaches to implementing CSI activities, depending on the organization. The more common consists of companies providing funding and resources for worthwhile social causes, such as donating money, and for many people, this is the definition used when thinking about CSI.
However, another type of CSI involves putting together a sustainable program that addresses key issues of a well-defined demography for the best interest of the company and society. The most successful corporate CSI program integrates these two types of CSI together to show a true commitment to a cause.
Over the years, KenGen has been at the forefront of addressing community issues at its power stations across the country, and with the setting up of the Foundation in 2012, the company repositioned itself as being able to execute long-term sustainable CSI projects.
The Foundation focuses KenGen’s CSI efforts on three key pillars of sustainability namely Education, Environment, and Water & Sanitation. The overall aim is to improve the living standards of the communities around KenGen installations while sustaining the social license to operate within the areas.
Through specialized programs targeting the communities around the company’s power stations, the Foundation engages other like-minded corporate organizations in resource mobilization for long-term partnerships in implementing sustainable and replicable projects for mutual benefits.
Currently, over 800 secondary school and university students from across Kenya have benefitted from full scholarships under the education pillar, with several working at KenGen as per policy; while more than 200 acres of a targeted 500 acres have been reforested in a 10-year school-based partnership environmental conservation program at 7 Forks. 600,000 community members around the company’s power plants have access to clean water either through piping, water kiosks, or installed water tanks and other rainwater-harvesting innovations, thanks to the company’s CSI efforts.
The long-term relationships created through such sustainable projects reflect back on the company’s brand image as a responsible corporate citizen and positively impact on the overall business performance and outputs. The Foundation’s multi-pronged projects not only address poverty alleviation through social entrepreneurship but also create education/ employment opportunities and gender equality while conserving hydro buffer zones for stable power production.
So far, the company, through the CSI projects, has the endorsement and loyalty of communities to operate, leading to smoother operations and improved earnings.
Consequently, as more consumers and suppliers focus their businesses towards socially and environmentally responsible organizations, it is becoming more vital for companies to have a strong brand image. Returns-on-CSI projects aren’t limited to one-time but are gifts that keep on giving.
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–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer